Thursday, February 21, 2008

If there is one thing I truly appreciate when going to a shop, restaurant, or other public place it's a great bathroom. There's just something special about places that take care to provide really nice facilities. A clean place to put your purse and hang your jacket, nice soap to use at the sink, and special touches that let you know they care about the details. When I opened my new shop I knew I wanted a really great bathroom not just for myself but for my customers as well. So I took great care to make it warm and inviting, and I actually have people come in and say someone told them to be sure and use the bathroom while at my shop! So I decided to give you all a peek inside. Enjoy!

Pages from old books of insects and botanicals that I decoupaged on the walls.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

I just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone the Happiest Most Romantic Valentine's Day! I will be posting some new shop pics soon so stay tuned. Tomorrow the shop will be closed as I am going shopping for treasures at Renninger's Extravaganza in Mt. Dora FL! Love a shopping day!

Friday, February 8, 2008

Hi everyone! I am offering for sale here on my blog the work of California artist Linda Keene. Linda uses old paper and ephemera to craft one-of-a-kind pieces that are charming and fabulous. I have had the pleasure of selling her work in my shop over the past year and am now sharing them here with you. All pieces are on a first come first serve basis and are one of a kind. Please contact me if you'd like to purchase something and I will send you a final total with shipping. I can accept a money order, check or you can pay via paypal. Happy shopping!

Garden Girl~13 and 1/2" tall. Made from old paper on miniature dress from. $95 plus shipping.GARDEN GIRL IS SOLD~~THANK YOU!!

Heart In Hand Altered Art Sketch Book. 6 and 1/2" by 5". Made of old papers and ephemera. There are pages to sketch, journal and places to put found objects. Beautifully done, you will treasure it forever! $85 plus shipping.

Keeper Of The Nest Altered Art Book~6 and 1/2" by 5". Keepsake book to journal, sketch or tuck in found objects. Exquisitely hand made from old paper and ephemera. One of a kind. $85 plus shipping.KEEPER OF THE NEST BOOK IS SOLD. THANKS!

Victorian Puzzle Blocks~6 blocks covered in old ephemera. Rearrange to make a new picture as you change the blocks. Charming and very vintage. Blocks are 1 and 3/4" square. $50 plus shipping.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Well everyone, I have some really awesome news to share! About a year ago, I got the bug to go to Texas and see what the buzz is all about. I love to read all the blogs that my friend Theresa from Garden Antiques posts about Canton and Round Top. It was definitely on my radar to go there someday and see it firsthand. Well lately I have been getting encouragement from some customers in my shop to venture outside of Florida and try my hand at selling in Texas. And since I have made some really awesome new friends lately who sell there as well, I decided to quit thinking about it and do it.

Long story short, I applied to become a dealer at the Marburger Farms show at Round Top in April and have been accepted! Woohoo! I am extremely excited and will definitely give you all a full report of the experience when I return. And lest I forget, a big thank you goes out to Theresa Smith for her recommendation to Marburger on my behalf, and to Judy Hill for her patience in answering all my questions. Both of these awesome friends are Marburger dealers as well and always do a fab job at bringing really cutting edge antiques to the show and displaying them beautifully!

A final shout-out goes to my friend Theresa Cano for her encouragement, for hooking me up with Theresa and Judy, and for helping me with questions and "concerns" about the show. You are an awesome person "T"! Can't wait to meet you in person!

If you are planning to go to the show in April, please stop by tent H and say hello! I'd love to meet you!

Gosh I feel like it's been forever since I posted to my blog, so I decided to get with it again. My friend Theresa at Garden Antiques tagged me with an award so now I am to share 7 facts about myself and then tag 7 friends as well. So here goes:

1. I am about to become a grandmother (thought I would make it to 50) for the first time this spring. In March I am getting a granddaughter and in May a grandson!!!!!! Pretty cool huh?

2. I love candy. But most of all I LOVE Peeps! And if they are just a little stale, that's even better!

3. I live in Florida but I own twice as many winter clothes as summer.

4. I must always clean the house before we go on a trip. Drives Mr. Sweet Pea bonkers.

5. I hate driving on bridges over water, but every day I do just that on my way to my shop. AND in the water are lots and lots of alligators. Creepy!

6. I love to watch shows about Bigfoot and haunted houses.

7. I have never tasted shrimp. I think they look totally creepy and I can't bring myself to try one.

Well there you have it. 7 facts about me you never knew. So now I must tag 7 friends to share their secrets too. Here they are in no particular order:

Antique dealer, junk lover, one of the "green" people before we even knew we were. Wife, mother of two sons, grandma to three little angels. Twice a year Mr. Sweet Pea and I make the long drive to Texas to do the Marburger Farms show. We love it and wish we lived closer. But then there are those three little angels... Never tire of looking for treasure and re-doing my home.